Functional Skills - everything you wanted to know and

were afraid to ask

2

What are they?• English, Mathematics and ICT

– Entry Level 1 – 3 (part of Foundation Learning)– Level 1 – equivalent to GCSE D-G– Level 2 – equivalent to GCSE A*-C and worth half a

GCSE pass in each subject• An intrinsic part of GCSE from Sept 2010 45%-

55%• A must pass element of Diplomas &

Apprenticeships• Replace Key Skills, ALAN, Skills for Life > 2010

Functional Skills

It is essential to think of learners becoming functional with English,

maths and ICT, rather than thinking that there is a vital body of knowledge,

known as Functional Skills.QCA

Why Functional SkillsAre “Different”

• Competence not compensation • “Security”• Immersive contexts• Knowing what skills are being taught/used

What are they worth?

Maths English ICT Note

Level 1 12.5 pts 12.5 pts 12.5 pts Each qualification is 10% towards pass threshold

Level 2 23 pts 23 pts 23 pts Equivalent to 1.5 A*-C GCSE passes

Functional Skills Grading• FS are simply marked as pass or fail• A marginal fail at level 2 DOES NOT result

in an award of a Level 1 pass. Each test is completely separate

• Students have to be entered at the right level

• Eventually students will take tests “when they are ready”, probably when on screen testing is with us

Themes and Contexts• Realistic and relevant • Often similar themes or contexts for level 1

and 2, but with different questions• Key objective is transferability of skills, so

assessment is not in subject area of Diploma

• More initial reading than GCSE is required to “set the scene”, but reading age will be kept low

Assessment Formats• NOT only multiple choice, but ...

– Different question types• Gap fill, multi select, matching, edit, error spot• Tasks• Free text• And much more ...

– In different assessment formats– From different assessment bodies– And changing all the time

Passing Functional Skills

• Students need lots of help as failure rates based on Sample and first Assessments of FS are very high indeed

• FS is not about “teaching to the test”• It is about mastering the skills and process

7 common excuses

They are too hardI don’t have to do them yet

The final specifications are not outIf I can’t see an exam paper I can’t teach

They’ll never happenDon’t have to do them

We only do performance tables

7 common answers

They are too hard – they are rigorous and students need to master the skills to pass, it demands practice and good teaching

I don’t have to do them yet – from 2010 every GCSE student does them and already year 7, apprentices, diplomas, foundation learning do them

The final specifications are not out – if we waited for change to stop, we’d never start doing anything at all

If I can’t see an exam paper I can’t teach – you can’t teach to the test, that’s one of the “rules” of functional skills

They’ll never happen - they will

Don’t have to do them – you do!

Performance Tables - being replaced by the School Report Card

SummaryFunctional skills =• New thinking• Practice practice practice

– In familiar and unfamilar contexts• Different assessment

– Competence not compensation– Mastery

Guroo is the UK’s leading independent resource for

Functional Skills